UN Chief Declares Famine in Gaza, Calls Crisis a ‘Man-Made Disaster’
By The South Asia Times
UNITED NATIONS – UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday declared that Gaza is now in a state of famine, describing the crisis as a “man-made disaster” and a stark failure of international responsibility.
“Just when it seems there are no words left to describe the living hell in Gaza, a new one has been added: famine,” Guterres said in a statement.
He warned that starvation in the territory was not a natural occurrence but the result of a “deliberate collapse of the systems needed for human survival.”
The UN chief said people were starving and children were dying while those with the duty to act were failing. He rcriticized Israel and reminded them that, as the occupying power, it has legal obligations under international law to ensure food and medical supplies for civilians in Gaza.
“We cannot allow this situation to continue with impunity,” Guterres stressed, calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian access.
His declaration comes amid growing warnings from aid agencies that Gaza’s 2.3 million residents face catastrophic levels of hunger as months of conflict and restrictions on aid deliveries cripple essential services.
